Is Hypnosis Compatible with Christianity? (100th Live )

Is it okay for a Christian to be hypnotized, which is one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity hi this is Bill Meyer along with Pastor Israel Sanchez and this is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day. You can call us right now with your question.

For the next 25 minutes or so at 833.

The core that's 1-833-843-2673 also post your question on our Facebook, Instagram or twitter accounts. You can watch us on YouTube and email us your question at questions at core, Christianity.com will Israel today is a very special day.

Do you happen to know what it is I do bill today is the 100th live broadcast of core Christianity is amazing. You know people didn't believe we could do it here we are. Bill we've been doing it every day for gosh it seems like it if you started not not too long ago, but it's it's pretty amazing that we've Artie we've Artie put in 100 episodes in all the way through: which is pretty amazing as well.

Yeah, I'm curious, do you have any special memories or no particular shows that you don't come to mind when you think about the last 100 is like asking you know which kid is your favorite show bill has been special, but there was that moment after there was a moment where live on the air we lost you and I know you remember this bill because dad so it was sort of interesting. I me I had to take over for for a brief period while what we didn't have you live with us and I just felt the power surging and it was really kinda scary actually III was I was happy. I liked it, but then we got you back on so that was what we had the ring you win because that you ever get a little pigheaded yeah I know we have so many great calls that come in and we want to thank our wonderful donors who make this program possible on people not realize this but were not supported by a church or denomination.

We actually rely on people to make donations to keep the show on the air. We have a special people called our inner core. Yeah, no, we are very blessed by the members of the inner core and just really appreciate their their support their encouragement. It's a way for for you to partner with us. It's a $25 monthly donation. We send you also to great resources like this book. Core Christianity right here and we just know it. It will bless you. So if that's what you're interested in you sign up to be a part of the inner core love to have you involved in that group. You can find out more.

Our website core, Christianity.com hi, one of the question for you.

Those we think about the 100th live episode Israel with all the calls that came in coming. We get blisters from all over the country actually all over the world. What's your impression of the type of questions we been receiving II honestly am just so amazed by the diversity of questions we get just about everything from you know deep theological questions to Bible questions. You know what, what does this passage of Scripture mean to practical everyday living Christian life questions. One thing that I really love about our audience to feel. I feel as though there. You know I we've had a lot of occasion people call us back. As you know, Bill, and those they hate you know I I was thinking about what you said yesterday earlier this week in the broadcast. And I want to follow up on on something in this passage is scripted.

If I love the people are digging into the Scriptures and I that were able to have this this discussion, together with our audience. Let's go to a call we have on the line.

This is Jordan from Fort Wayne, Indiana Jordan, what's your question for Pastor Israel and finding serious drought look through my life before slot redeemable or not, what would downward spiral while low rank out of old audit and not harass the Bible right leg. I feel on the right way and immediately you know my son, much more.

The strange thing is going bad. I don't understand why things continue to go bad every time that I continue to try to do it right.

Yeah Jordan well I'm sorry to hear about the circumstances, events of youth you've been going through. You know, of course.

And Jesus said to his disciples in John chapter 16 in this world you will have tribulation committing to following Jesus does not mean that were supposed to not experience bad things in this life Jesus to me was very clear. We just just think Jordan about the disciples the initial disciples of Jesus, the apostles, the majority of them were martyred. They lost everything they lost a family. They lost friends. They lost wealth and yet the message of Jesus, the forgiveness of sins, the hope of the resurrection of the dead was greater to them.

Then everything they lost is why Paul in the book of Philippians as you like.

I count those things as rubbish as he was reflecting on his life and as a Hebrew Hebrew of Hebrews, he says, been thinking about you know all the accolades that he had received and all of those things are sort of dissolving when he decided to follow Jesus and now you know being hated by many of the people that he once loved and so I think sometimes is the first thing I want to say. Sometimes we can buy into the lie that if we commit to doing good if we commit to following Jesus then then our life is really supposed to come together and everything supposed to be nice and then we realize that that's not the case and that we begin that the question will guide you know are you not keeping up your end of the bargain. That kind of thing.

But God never promises us.

You know that that were knocking to have tribulation in this life. The fact of the matter is you said the opposite. But he said also in John chapter 16, but be of good heart because I have overcome the world.

This world yes there is sickness there is death there is disappointment there is sorrow there is sin. Christ is overcome those things and that's why we follow him. That's what we commit to him, even when it's hard. That one other passage of Scripture that I was thinking about as you were, as you were sharing their Jordan is what Peter says this exultation that Peter gives in first Peter chapter 4 beginning in verse 12.

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you as though something strange were happening to you, but rejoice in so far as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ. You are blessed because the spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.

Let no one suffer as a murderer, or thief, or an evildoer as a meddler and if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name for it is time for the judgment to begin at the household of God. Peter said, and if it begins with us will be the outcome of those who do not obey the gospel of God know one of the things that I think this is so important there.

From what Peter says he's writing to. These Christians were suffering Jordan. He says beloved, don't be surprised. Don't think it's strange. Don't think that just because you committed to Jesus. Everything in your life is supposed to come together and so what you're experiencing it. It doesn't necessarily mean that you're not supposed to follow Jesus. On the contrary, I would say Jordan continue to pursue the Lord continue to seek him continue to grow in your relationship with Christ not to turn back and that is what happens with a lot of people's experience difficulty in life and they do sound I'm throwing in the towel. God you didn't you didn't do for me what I was hoping you would do for me and and and we can have that attitude we follow Jesus.

Why not because not because he gives us our best life now you know is it's sometimes promised by some preachers.

We follow him because he's the true and the living God, the Lord of heaven and earth, the one in whom we have the forgiveness of sins and the hope of the resurrection follow him continue to follow him to draw near to him and in Jordan. I hope also that your your part of a good church to have a body of Christians around you. That is also able to support you and encourage you in this time Jordan I'm sorry we lost you there probably are like a liturgical level on the character is a great friend and I have this conversation the other day and no blood red glowing on you know what what is called lust and grow it will not walk away. I will know I would like your outlook a lesson truly is all of it because one time the one-time occurrence of negative blood. Maybe the lucky little girl with no with the trial that come along and know that they are there to build and strengthen most certainly out still a little I definitely want to appreciate your call and hope hope that we've encouraged you and I want to I want to pray for you as well.

Right now, so let's let's pray for for Jordan heavenly father we lift Jordan up to you right now as he deals with all sorts of different things in his life, and I difficulty struggles, disappointments, Lord God, would you be with him would you fill them with your Holy Spirit. Would you even when he feels like he can't hold on anymore Lord when he's frustrated, would you hold on to him. Jesus I pray that through these these trials. These difficulties that is experiencing in life that you would work in him and through him that you would strengthen his faith, he would strengthen his character that is has he commits to walking with you, Lord, you would sanctify him day by day and we know God that that is your will for us our sanctification that you hear our prayer. We pray for this, so would you continue to sanctify my brother grant him your piece.

Your presence and clarity of mind as he thinks about these things be with him, Lord, we pray in Jesus name, amen Jordan hang on the line if you would. We would love to send you a complimentary copy of our book core Christianity your address to our phone screeners there will send that off to you in the mail ASAP. You're listening to core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. If you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life. Our phone lines are open right now you got about 15 minutes or so. So call him right now. Here's the number it's 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673. You can also leave a voicemail on that same number 24 hours a day and there's a voicemail we received earlier this week wrong that's poetic you question we have got on the on the broadcast, before Bill, but I think it's a really good question into my my experience with him.

It is not personal experience I went to the fair is a get armor one time and there was a hypnotist there and I had all these people on the stage and he I guess it hypnotize him how to know if this was all a big show.

It seem like you just pick people from from the crowd and that they they came up and were willing to be hypnotized and it was a sort of strange thing right like day they were, you know, he had him barking and running around and doing all sorts of crazy things and I know that was you. I do know that hypnosis is meant to put you in a very suggestive state, and in some said instances like that like that experience that I had seen this at the fair that seems a people lose lose control and I got I guess one concern that I would have when were talking about. This is the Bible really treat self-control is a virtue is a fruit of the spirit.

The apostle Paul talked about that in Galatians chapter 5 verse 23, he lists self-control as a fruit of the spirit, typically in the Bible you know the things that inhibit us are our faculties and were called neato by by Paul in Ephesians chapter 5. Don't be drunk with wine right why book because it because it it it it you begin to lose control of your faculties.

You can't serve and glorify the Lord like you ought to your you're no longer in control, but instead be filled with the Holy Spirit.

In other words be controlled by the spirit. The spirit is the one who is to guide you to lead you to make the suggestions if you will to help you walk in godliness and in holiness, and so one concern that I have in terms of talking about this this whole thing of hypnosis is is putting yourself in a vulnerable position in a position where your your highly open to suggestion and maybe even where you lose control of your faculties. I think I think we have to be very careful with that and certainly something that you you would never want to play with and I think that there there probably even some sort of new AG occult type things where where they use hypnosis in those situations is to just steer clear 100%. I do know and Bill, I want to I want to pass the ball to you hear that hypnosis is sometimes use an in therapy to help people actually to help people you know have more self-control. In some instances and their IPO.

Sometimes it'll be used for things like to help a person quit smoking or to stop drinking alcohol is an alcoholic or some other type of negative habit and so I would say that be really careful as you pointed out. First of all, if you're going to go to psychotherapist that practices hypnosis go to a Christian will go to somebody who shares your faith and you talked about self-control. If the hypnosis helps you to be more self-controlled, for example, to quit smoking. I thing that can be a positive thing but I was remembering your first Peter 47 talks about being clear minded and that ties really well to edit that ties into whether were using some kind of a substance or were under hypnosis. God wants us to be clear minded and self-controlled in all that we do.

So I think there is a danger there. If it's used for the wrong purposes. Sometimes it can be used to help people deal with things like post traumatic stress disorder and summing a person having recurring nightmares and whatnot. And in those cases, perhaps it could be helpful, but always go to somebody who's an expert in and I'd say somebody who shares your values, that's great advice Bill, thank you you're listening to core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez and we would love to hear from you if you got a question about the Bible or the Christian life again.

The number 833. The core 833. The core is the number and one of the things you want to mention was summer time just around the corner, in fact – were just a few days away from the official start of summer. But we know a lot of kids are out of already out of school and may be out of school for the next 10 to 12 weeks or so.

We got something for families. We want to tell you about.

It's absolutely free and will help your family help your kids start to memorize God's word, 10 verses to memorize as a family this summer. That's the resource that were offering you right now for free and I get on this because the summer is as Bill, as you say it's it's already here and so you're gonna want to get a head start and I start memorizing these verses with the for what wonderful thing to be able to to look back at the other summers a man you know we did a lot of fun things we eat at the beach trips and maybe had a had a family vacation that kind of a thing. But honestly there.

There are there are a lot of better things you can do that be in the word together with your family memorize Scripture.

And so get a hold of this resource 10 verses to memorize as a family this summer. I member when I was 16. The first verse I memorized was Jesus wept. Yeah, I'm still I'm still working on that when they left. Let us know if you like a copy about free resources what you do is you go to core Christianity.com/offers and again it's called 10 verses to memorize as a family this summer. You can also call us for that resource or any one of our resources at 833. The core let's go to David in Wichita, Kansas, David, what's your question for pastor. Israel chapter 9 abomination of desolation, and Jesus talked about it. Okay so I understand, the Antichrist will do it but also like a double fulfillment war because 70 A.D. and then a certain king and a certain king supposed to do so is double fulfillment of her or want want want your answer note, David. Great question.

And so were looking at the book of Daniel is this prophecy in Daniel chapter 9 as well as Jesus's words in Matthew chapter 24 verse 25. This language of the abomination of desolation.

Sometimes in the prophets. You do have these we might refer to as double fulfillment certain dual reference where you have something kind of on the original horizon that that that spoke to those people there. I fulfillment my more immediate fulfillment that something later down the line and there are number of of instances that have been pointed to hear you mention 70 A.D. I even prior to that in about 167 BC you had Antioquia's epiphanies who set up this this idolatrous statue in the temple there is this this terrible battle and there some people have pointed to that instance as well.

It seems to me like in Matthew chapter 24. Jesus is either furniture things. There actually is referring to the time of his second coming and then also to the time of the destruction of the temple. If you go to the very beginning of Matthew chapter 24, there are these questions that the disciples are asking because in verse one. Jesus left the temple was going away when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. He answered them.

You see these things do not truly I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down. And then, as he said the Mount of olives, the disciples came up to him privately, saying, tell us, when will these things be.

In other words win-win is his temple to be destroyed and so two things here. What will be the sign of your coming in so you have these two things been addressed here in Matthew 24 is Jesus is responding and and in particular I think what he's highlighting there in terms of the temple and fling from Jerusalem is is what was coming in 70 A.D., but there is also you know sometimes and we look at Paul's writing to the Thessalonians David in bed. We think will there. There is also can it be this this man of lawlessness in the future, the sort of ultimate Antichrist.

If you will, prior to the second coming or or near to the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and so of course we know John says in first John that the spirit of the antichrist is already at work in the world that there are many antichrists out there but there's one figure in particular that Paul seems to refer to in the book of Thessalonians. And so, so I would say yes you do have the sort of antichrist figures throughout the history of the church that that crop up in that are referred to at different places in different places of the Scriptures. I think it's okayed it to see this here as either their being at more than one referent. Thank you for your question. Thanks David appreciate you digging into God's word and that's a great question. Let's go to Clint in Cherokee, Iowa hi Clint, welcome to the program.

Hello so I currently got in the Bible is that we're supposed to look forward to our next life.

But how do you handle that end up? How how do you stop yourself from going too far to seek debt instead of just looking forward to it.

Yeah that's a good question Clint, thank you for forgiving us a call and now I'm turning right now in my Bible to the book of Philippians and it's sort of at this this discussion that Paul is having with the Philippians and and also with himself and in he says in Philippians chapter 1 verse 19 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the spirit of Jesus Christ. This will turn out for my deliverance as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but with full courage now is as always Christ will be honored in my body whether by life or by death forward to me to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I'm to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me yet which I shall choose I cannot tell is I'm hard-pressed between the two might desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better but to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.

In other words, on on account of you Philippians so that I can encourage you and serve you and and and he goes on to say convinced of this. I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith. Now Clint.

The Bible does say that there there is something stored up for for the faithful. For those who are in Christ that is beyond what we could ever imagine week we couldn't think it up.

God is so good. The new creation being in the presence of the Lord. It's it's far better than anything else we've ever experienced in in this world.

And so that's something that we look forward to, but that of course is never something that we that we bring upon ourselves. God puts us here on this earth to serve him and we ought to be able to say like the apostle Paul said in Philippians chapter 1 there for to me to live is Christ that is as I live my life I'm living it for Jesus walking with Jesus, serving Jesus and as I do that there's great joy. Even here in this world there is there is joy to be had in what in pouring out our lives for others in serving Christ in walking with him and knowing him in in fulfilling his word as is. He calls us to live and and so you know II think that you know we want to have that sort of heavenly mindedness, innocent as people say you can be so heavenly minded that you're no earthly good. Note that the hope of heaven really should inspire us here on earth, the hope of the new creation I should cause us to love one another better to serve the Lord with all eagerness, because of the fact that our sins are forgiven and so it's not just sort of. This world is miserable and horrible and got sky doesn't have anything for me here. I'm depressed about. I can't wait just to leave this this world and going and be with the Lord in heaven. It's no while were here on on this earth.

God has a purpose and a plan for us. He has a purpose and a plan for you. Clint and it's to know him and to glorify him and to grow in the grace and the knowledge of his son Jesus to be able to say, together with the apostle Paul and friends.

This is something we all want to be able to say we ought to be able to say for to me to live is Christ it's him in me and through me bearing fruit working spreading the aroma of his presence of his gospel to the people around me that God calls us to friends and what a joy that is in and can be in this world as we look forward to the world to come. The hope of everlasting life.

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